Godwin To Wear No. 23 For East Carolina
January 31, 2015 | Baseball
Program Highlights l 
Photo Gallery
GREENVILLE, N.C. - During the annual baseball kickoff fan session known now as an Evening With The Pirates, East Carolina Head Coach Cliff Godwin was presented with the honorary No. 23 jersey and will wear the number for the upcoming season.
The No. 23 jersey, which was the number worn by the late ECU Head Coach Keith LeClair throughout his coaching and playing career, became an honorary number for the Pirate program in 2003.
In front of a packed house Saturday night at Harvey Hall inside the Murphy Center, Lynn LeClair presented Godwin with her late husband's jersey, which he will don during his tenure as ECU's head coach.
"I'm extremely honored that Lynn and her family have asked me to wear No. 23 this year in honor of Coach LeClair," Godwin said. "The number isn't about me, it's about the man who stood at third base while I was playing at East Carolina and it's about this program. I will be following in his footsteps giving signs at third base this year and years to come. Once we make it to Omaha and the purple and gold No. 23 is standing down the third base line, it will be retired and placed on the outfield wall for everyone to see."
Saturday's event kicked off with sit-down dinner with Pirate fans, coaches, players (past and present) and ECU dignitaries mingling and talking baseball. Long time WNCT TV-9 Sports Director Brian Bailey served as the emcee and guided the crowd through a 90-minute program introducing the coaching staff and their families, ECU baseball's support staff, players and special guests on hand. Fans got a chance to see ECU's recruiting video as well as highlights from the Pirates MISSION Week, which was conducted in the fall.
Then came the moment everyone was waiting for in the awarding of No. 23 jersey. ECU's team chaplain Chuck Young and Lynn LeClair spoke to the audience about Coach LeClair's life, motto and love of baseball before Lynn presented the gold No. 23 jersey to Godwin.
Prior to this season, the honorary No. 23 was awarded annually to a deserving player who best displayed the hustle, determination and desire that made LeClair a great coach and player.
Eleven former Pirates have worn No. 23 over the last 12 years with Austin Homan (2010-11) becoming the only two-time recipient. Ben Sanderson (2003), Jamie Paige (2004) and Brian Cavanaugh (2005) were recruited and played under LeClair before he stepped down as head coach at the end of the 2002 campaign.
Others that joined the exclusive group were Adam Witter (2006), Chris Powell (2007), Drew Schieber (2008), Brandon Henderson (2009), Timothy Younger (2012), Jay Cannon (2013) and Ryan Williams (2014).
LeClair's courageous battle against amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, commonly referred to as ALS or Lou Gehrig's Disease, has garnered support and admiration throughout the ECU and collegiate baseball community.
The Pirates will open the 2015 season on Friday, Feb. 13 when they play host to nationally ranked Virginia with a 3 p.m. (EST) scheduled first pitch. Season tickets are still available and can be ordered by contacting the ECU Athletic Ticket Office at (252) 737-4500.
